Steytler, Johannes P.D.Strydom, Herman2014-10-282014-10-282013Steytler, J.P.D.P. & Strydom, H. 2013. Mentor relationship effects on perceived quality of life by a sample of rural South African teenagers. Journal of psychology in Africa, 23(1):123-128. [http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rpia20#.VD55txaq06A]1433-02371815-5626http://hdl.handle.net/10394/11992This study investigated mentor effects on the perceived quality of life of South African adolescent boys. Participants were 20 adolescent boys that completed the Child Functioning Inventory High School, a standardised measuring instrument. These teenagers also engaged in an interview on their lived experience of same-sex mentors. Findings suggest that the teenagers with an identified mentor experienced a higher quality of life than their peers that do not have a mentor. The teenagers prefer a mentor to be actively involved in their lives and they long for protection and support.Adolescent boyAbsent fatherMentorMenteeNatural mentor relationshipSouth AfricaArticle